David Newkirk

Carol Cone

SHE / HER / HERS

  • Consultant
  • Speaker
  • Workshop Facilitator

For more than 35 years, Carol Cone has embraced a steadfast commitment to leading the purpose movement. Carol is CEO of Carol Cone ON PURPOSE, and is internationally recognized as the leading expert on social purpose, corporate citizenship and CSR. She has executed over 250 purpose initiatives throughout her career.

GUIDING PRINCIPLE

Make authentic connections.

Purpose Consultants Purpose Workshops Social Impact Sustainability Consultants

Popular Talks

Purpose 101
Inspirational, evidence-based presentation on purpose and CSR yesterday, today, and into the future.

Speaking & Workshops

Purpose 101
Inspirational, evidence-based presentation on purpose and CSR yesterday, today and into the future. Helps audiences understand how authentic purpose is identified, developed, integrated and amplified, including best practices.

Purpose Ambition Workshop
Proprietary, participative workshop to help organizations and individuals determine ambition and scope for purpose initiatives. Provides an actionable framework for right-sizing business purpose and achieving long-term results.

B2B Purpose Paradox
Based on original research conducted with leading B2B companies, explains the state of purpose among B2Bs and key cultural, stakeholder, and growth drivers.

“As promised, I’m introducing you here to our ESG and social purpose comms consultants, Carol Cone On Purpose. Carol and Talya Bosch here are simply THE best in the business. They are two of my favorite people and joys to work with.”
— Corey Dade, VP Communications, WSP; Former Global Head of External Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility, Bechtel

“Carol Cone is trail blazer in aligning business with purpose. Carol is genuine consular to help companies ensure that they can increase and profit through sustainable activities. I’ve been privy to witnessing — and supporting–Carol guide CEO, executive suite and Boards, about evolving their activities to improve society. Carol–passionately– works with business and non-profits, to do good, for employees, investors, communities and society at large. She pioneered cause marketing, and is leading expert and advocate for purpose-driven business.”
— Derek Creevey, Director of PR, GEP Worldwide

"Carol Cone gave ConAgra Foods the perfect platform connecting the firm's core competence in food production and marketing with a compelling need to solve child hunger. I was privileged to have been a witness to her frame breaking work in establishing Cause Marketing. What an icon!"
— TIM P. MCMAHON, McMahon Marketing

Carol is internationally recognized as the leading expert on social purpose, corporate citizenship and CSR. Carol Cone ON PURPOSE is her fourth enterprise activating her purpose: to educate, inspire and accelerate purpose strategy, programs and impacts for corporations, brands, nonprofits and professionals around the globe.

For more than 35 years, Cone has embraced a steadfast commitment to leading the purpose movement. Cone has executed 250+ purpose programs—from enterprise and social purpose, ESG strategies and communications, to cause branding and nonprofit positioning, fundraising and stakeholder engagement. Over her career she has conducted more than 30 research studies to educate and inspire professionals. She also hosts the podcast, Purpose 360, and to support more powerful business and nonprofit partnerships, she authored Breakthrough Nonprofit Branding.

This extensive body of work has gained her descriptions including: Purpose Queen (BBC), one of the world’s 7 Sustainability Pioneers (Sustainable Brands) to “arguably the most powerful and visible figure in the world of ‘Cause Branding’ (PRWeek).

Clients she and her colleagues have served include: Adobe, Aflac, The American Lung Association, Bezos Family Foundation, Campbell Soup Company, ConAgra Foods, the Everglades Foundation, General Motors, Girl Scouts of the USA, the Kerry Group, LG, Microsoft, P&G, PNC, Reebok, Southwest Airlines, Unilever, Western Union, Whirlpool among others.

She is a highly sought-after speaker and media expert, sharing her insights on purpose branding, corporate citizenship, sustainability and CSR around the globe from the New York Times, to the Economist, the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company to CNN and the AP.

Her most special personal moment: meeting the Dalai Lama, prior to her speech in Calgary, titled “The Power of Business for Good.” When she met him, he held her hand for 5 minutes. It was about a week before she got the nerve to wash that hand!

Let’s collaborate to ensure a transformative experience.